Anthurium andreanum plant named ‘Anthbnzl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anthurium  plant named ‘Anthbnzl’, as described and illustrated, and particular characterized by the combined features of Compact plant growth and very early and rich flowering; mini-type pot plant, maximum growth to approximately 55 cm; long and erect peduncle, flowers held just above the foliage; open plant habit due to little shoot formation; dark green leaves, durable with light green primary veins; red and very durable flowers, remaining red until they die; and large amount of flowers in relation to the amount of leaves resulting in an excellent leaf to flower size ratio.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Anthurium andreanum L.

Variety denomination: Anthbnzl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Anthbnzl’ is a new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium botanically known as Anthurium andreanum L. The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, and was obtained from a cross made during such a program in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in 1995.

The female or seed parent was a pink-colored Anthurium pot plant identified as number 94-629-06 (unpatented). The male or pollen parent was an orange-colored flowering Anthurium pot plant identified as number 95-00-251 (proprietary, unpatented). ‘Anthbnzl’ was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor, Jan van Dijk, in November 1997 in a controlled environment in a glasshouse in Bleiswijk.

Subsequent asexual reproduction by tissue culture at the same location has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and in combination distinguish ‘Anthbnzl’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant growth and very early and rich flowering;     -   2. Mini-type pot plant, maximum growth to approximately 55 cm;     -   3. Long and erect peduncle, flowers held just above the foliage;     -   4. Open plant habit due to little shoot formation;     -   5. Dark green leaves, durable with light green primary veins;     -   6. Red and very durable flowers, remaining red until they die;         and     -   7. Large amount of flowers in relation to the amount of leaves         resulting in an excellent leaf to flower size ratio.

Tabe 1 provides a comparison among plants of ‘Anthbnzl’ and plants of the parents, 94-629-06 (female parent, unpatented) and 95-00-251 (male parent, proprietary, unpatented):

TABLE 1 94-629-06 95-00-251 Characteristic ‘Anthbnzl’ Female Parent Male Parent Growth habit: Compact, early Slender, late Compact, early to flower to flower to flower Leaf Length: 24 cm Length: 29 cm Length: 28 cm description of a Width: 13 cm Width: 16 cm Width: 15 cm mature plant: Texture: Texture: Slightly Texture: Flat and mat bubbled and mat Flat and mat Color: Yellow- Color: Green, Color: Green, green, RHS 147A RHS 139A RHS 137A Spathe Length: 14 cm Length: 17 cm Length: 14 cm description of a Width: 14 cm Width: 14 cm Width: 11 cm mature plant: Color: Color: Red to Color: Orange- Red, RHS 53B pink, RHS 50A red, RHS 34A Spadix Length: 6 cm Length: 9 cm Length: 6 cm Description: Width at base: Width at base: Width at base: 0.9 cm 1.2 cm 0.8 cm Color when ripe: Color when ripe: Color when ripe: Cream yellow, Red-purple. Cream yellow, RHS 11D RHS 58D RHS 11D First time of 36 weeks 38 weeks 46 weeks flowering after planting tissue culture:

Table 2 provides a comparison between plants of ‘Anthbnzl’ and plants of the closest comparison cultivar Anthurium andreanum ‘Afrikanerin’ (commercially known as Arizona):

TABLE 2 ‘Afrikanerin’ Characteristic ‘Anthbnzl’ Closest Comparison Cultivar Growth habit: Compact, early to Slender and open habit, flower late to flower Leaf description of a Length: 24 cm Length: 25 cm mature plant: Width: 13 cm Width: 13 cm Texture: Texture: Slightly bubbled Flat and mat and glossy Color: Color: Green, Yellow-green, RHS 139A RHS 147A Spathe description Length: 14 cm Length: 14 cm of a mature plant: Width: 14 cm Width: 13 cm Color: Red, Color: Red, RHS 53B RHS 53B Spadix Description: Length: 6 cm Length: 7 cm Width at base: Width at base: 0.8 cm 0.9 cm Color when ripe: Cream Color when ripe: yellow. RHS 11D Cream yellow, RHS 11D First time of 36 weeks 40 weeks flowering after planting tissue culture:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The accompanying photographs, taken in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, show typical ‘Anthbnzl’ specimens.

FIG. 1 is a side-view of ‘Anthbnzl’ showing flowers held just above the leaf canopy and showing the open plant structure.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of an ‘Anthbnzl’ flower showing the spathe and spadix with pollen.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of ‘Anthbnzl’ flowers at three different stages of development: from young on the left to old on the right. The youngest flower has an unripe spadix (pistils are just visible at the base and pollen is not visible yet). The flower in the middle has a ripe spadix with a small amount of pollen. The spathe of the old flower on the right becomes brown-red, starting in the lobes. Between the left and the right flowers is a difference in age of approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

FIG. 4 is a close-up of the top a young (left) and old leaf blade (right) showing the difference between the vein color of young and old leaf blades. It also shows that the young leaf blades are more shiny then the old leaf blades.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, under greenhouse conditions, which closely approximate those generally used in horticultural practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color references are approximate, as color depends to a degree on horticultural practices such as light level and degree of fertilization, among others. The color values were determined between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Mar. 25, 2003, under 5000 lux natural light in a glasshouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The phenotype may vary significantly when grown under different conditions of temperature, light or other determining factors, without a change in genotype of the plant.

PROPAGATION

Asexual propagation by means of tissue culture and all subsequent propagation that flowered have been true to the original type in plant and flower characteristics.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Approximately 53-58 weeks following division, ‘Anthbnzl’ will reach a mature size of approximately 45 cm to 55 cm in height and approximately 35 cm to 45 cm in width in a 17 cm pot.

LEAVES

-   Form: The leaf blade is elliptical-cordate with an acuminate tip and     a cordate base. The leaf blade angle with the petiole between 80 and     110 degrees. ‘Anthbnzl’ makes larger leaf blades as it ages.     ‘Anthbnzl’ also could produce some axillary shoots with smaller leaf     blades. Therefore, a wide range in leaf blade length and width is     found on each plant. The minimum leaf blade length is approximately     6 cm and the maximum leaf blade length is approximately 25 cm. The     minimum leaf blade width is approximately 4 cm and the maximum leaf     blade width is approximately 14 cm. -   Texture: The leaf blades are leatherly and thick. The mature leaf     blades are weakly cupped. -   Veins: The mid-vein and primary veins (the veins which radiate out     from the juncture of the petiole and leaf) protude at the underside     of the leaf blade. The colour of the veins is light green on the     upper side of the leave (RHS 144A) and on the lower side of the     leave (RHS 144D). The veins contrast very well with the darker green     colour of the leaves. -   Leaf blade color: Young leaf blade (approximately maximum 2 weeks     old) upper surface is green (RHS 146A). Mature leaf blade     (approximately more than 4 weeks upper surface is dark green (RHS     147A) and the lower surface is green (RHS 146A). -   Lobes: A leaf blade has two small lobes extending past the petiole.     The distance between the petiole and leaf juncture to the highest     point on the lobes of mature leaf blades (width 14 cm, length 25 cm)     ranges approximately from 5 to 7 cm. -   Petiole: The color of the petiole of a mature leaf blade is green     (RHS 146A). The petiole color of an immature leaf blade is light     green (RHS 144A). The cross section of the petiole is round and the     diameter is approximately 3 to 4 mm. The color of the cataphyls     surrounding the petioles is green (RHS 143C) with a brown margin     (RHS 175A-B).

SPATHE

-   Buds: The spathe is tightly rolled around the spadix and extrudes     from the peduncle sheath. After the spathe is fully open the     peduncle elongates for a few more centimeters. -   Size: The completely developed spathe of a 50 cm tall plant is     approximately 14 cm long and approximately 12 cm to 14 cm wide. The     spathe could develop with green lobes or edge, which is not a very     stable characteristic throughout the year. If the spathe develops     with green lobes or edge, the width of the spathe could increase by     some centimeters. -   Color: When the spathe is just fully open the upper surface is red     (RHS 53B) and the lower surface is grey-red (RHS 179A).     Approximately 7 to 8 weeks after the opening of the spathe it starts     to discolor to brown-red (RHS 166A), starting with the lobes. After     approximately another 16 to 20 weeks the complete flower will be     brown. The flowers will stay on the plant for a very long period of     time. -   Arrangement: The spathe angle to the peduncle is between 80 and 100     degrees. The spathe stand on a straight wiry peduncle approximately     6 cm to 12 cm above the foliage. The peduncle cross-section is round     and the diameter approximately 4 mm to 5 mm, depending on the age of     the plant. The peduncle is erect and its length depends on the age     of the plant. It ranges from approximately 20 to 40 cm. -   Shape: The spathe is cordate with a mucronate tip and a cordate     base. A just fully opened spathe is slightly cup-shaped. As the     flower ages the tip bends upwards slightly. If the spathe develops     with green lobes or a green edge the width of the flower is     increased considerably.

FLOWERING TIME

One small untreated tissue culture plant of approximately 2 cm tall will flower, depending on season, after approximately 14 to 15 months when approximately 2 to 3 blossoms will appear. More blossoms appear some week later so that a full flowering and salable plant can have 4 to 10 red flowers. Smaller blossoms may occur on less mature growth.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Size: The spadix measures approximately 5 to 7 cm in height. The     length of the spadix is smaller than the length of the spathe. The     spadix is a columnar. The width of a mature spadix that is     approximately 7 cm long is approximately 10 mm at the base and     approximately 8 mm to 9 mm at the top. The spadix angle with spathe     is approximately 50 to 70 degrees. -   Color: At the time the spathe unrolls the spadix is unripe. Later as     the spadix matures, pistils become visible and pollen is produced.     An unripe spadix is orange-yellow (RHS 17A) and a ripe spadix is     creamy-white (RHS 11D). As the spadix matures (from base to tip) it     becomes creamy white. Berries exist on the spadix once pistils have     been pollinated. -   Berries: The number of berries after pollination could range from 1     up to 400 berries for a spadix on a mature plant. The size of the     berries grow from 0.1 cm just after pollination to 0.5 cm after     approximately 26 weeks. The berries are round to oblong in shape.     The color of the berries ranges from green (RHS 137B) for unripe     berries, to brown yellow (RHS 169B to 169C) for ripe berries. The     berries normally contain only one seed per berry. -   Seeds: The seeds are round to oblong in shape and are slightly     flattened off on two sides. The length of the seeds harvested from a     large spadix (mature plant size) is about 0.4 cm and the width is     about 1.3 mm, depending on the time of the year, cultural conditions     and spadix size. The seeds are smooth and slimy in texture. The     color of the seeds is grey-orange (RHS 163C), but the color may     differ depending on the season and on the ripening stadium of the     berry. -   Stamens: Anthers and filaments are not clearly visible on the     spadix. -   Pollen: Large amount of pollen production, white in color. -   Pistil: An unripe pistil is orange-yellow (RHS 17A) and a ripe     pistil is creamy-white (RHS 11D). The pistil protrudes from the     spadix.

ROOTS

Yellow-white roots with smaller hairy laterals. The root-tips are yellow.

-   Disease/Pest resistance: No known resistance and/or susceptibility     to diseases and pests. 

1. A new and distinct Anthurium plant named ‘Anthbnzl’, as herein described and illustrated. 